REPRESSION . . . Zimbabwean police continue to persecute civic society groups and the MDC

JOHANNESBURG – Repression and intimidation remain obstacles to attaining political stability in Zimbabwe, a report on politically motivated violence and human rights abuses in the southern African country said.

The latest report by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum said a power-sharing agreement between the ruling ZANU PF party and the opposition had failed to stem political violence and rights abuses, with 485 cases of rights violations recorded in October compared to 385 cases recorded the previous month.

Zimbabweans had hoped a September power-sharing agreement would help ease the political situation and allow the country to tackle a deepening humanitarian crisis. But the agreement looks dead after the opposition MDC on Monday declined to join ZANU PF in a unity government until its demand for equitable power-sharing is met.

The Forum said in the report made available to ZimOnline on Monday that state security agents continue to use heavy handed and repressive methods against government opponents.

It said it had also received reports of politicisation of food aid, where hungry opposition supporters were barred from receiving food.

It said: “Despite repeated promises by the parties to the global political (power-sharing) agreement to respect and honour their obligations for a society free of violence, fear and intimidation, repression and the lack of tolerance for civic activity remains a major stumbling block to attaining political stability in Zimbabwe.”

According to the report, state security agents, particularly the police continue to persecute civic society groups and the MDC disrupting the opposition’s meetings and other political activities just as they did in the bloody run-up to the June 27 presidential run-off election won by President Robert Mugabe.

At least 100 opposition supporters were killed and thousands of others displaced in the run-up to the June poll that Mugabe won as sole candidate after MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled because of political violence.

The Forum said it recorded 123 cases of violations of the freedoms of assembly, expression and movement in October compared to 98 cases recorded in September.

Placing police at the forefront of rights violations, the Forum said it recorded 83 cases of unlawful arrest and detention of citizens by police in October, about double the 44 cases witnessed the previous month.

It warned police and other government agents they could be held personally accountable for human rights abuses in the future.

“Some of the violations being committed by the security forces such as torture are considered international crimes, which are not pardonable under any circumstances and carry individual liability and compliance with ‘orders from above’ is no defence,” the rights group said.

According to the Forum, ZANU PF youths and war veterans have also taken part in committing rights abuses. It cited as an example one case in Manicaland province when war veterans barred the MDC from distributing food to hungry villagers.

“They reportedly alleged that the assistance was not sanctioned by the government and accused the opposition party of wanting to gain political mileage out of the desperation of starving villagers. The perpetrators reportedly ordered the villagers to disperse or risk being arrested,” the Forum said.

Politically motivated violence and human rights abuses – mostly blamed on state agents – have usually picked up in Zimbabwe towards elections and the country looked headed for fresh polls in the not too distant future as the MDC said on Monday it would not join a new unity government with ZANU PF.

The Morgan Tsvangirai led MDC said it wanted equitable sharing of key ministries and other top government posts before it can agree to support a draft constitutional law to create a unity government outlined under the September 15 power-sharing deal.

Without the backing of the MDC Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Number 19 Bill cannot pass in Parliament, a development that would mean the collapse of the power-sharing agreement.

Mugabe’s government has indicated it will call fresh elections if the MDC refuses to back the amendment. – ZimOnline